Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-02-18

~outh side. ] noticed Al always had plenty
to eat. And, one more item. When the
Third Battery was in Washington the c.
Street Bank was robbed of several thou
sand dollars in this way: One day a man
with plug hat and linen duster called at the
bank to make inquiries regarding interest
on deposits. After getting the information
he remarked, Il see you have some very
large bills over there. Can you give me a
few one thousand dollar bills for a lot Of
twenty bills?' The obliging clerk said he
thought so, and, seeing the polite ques-
toner take out a very large package which
he thought must contain many thousand
dollars, he brought over to the window a
bunch of $1,000 and $500 bills. AS he
raised his eyes he received a dose of dust
from his hands. Although blinded he
yelled the alarm. Instant chase was given;
the robber was followed closely. and
| lodged in and out of streets and alleys.
He disappeared in o short alley leading
/ into PENNSYLVANIA avenue. When the pur-
| suers turned the corner and entered the
| alley they perceived the thief coolly step
| around the further corner into the avenue.
| Clerks, managers and policemen rushed
| along and reached the avenue, and, behold!
there stood the thief, in plug hat and linen
buster, coolly looking at the jewelry dis
/ played in the window. They seized him,
and, to their surprise, he was black as the
ace of spades, and was armed with q boot
blacks outfit. After a good deal of ques-
tioning they found that be had not been
away from that corner ten minutes during
the whole day, and had for three days been
constantly on duty at that place. This
| was sworn to by the occupants of the store,
L or1 coyoro1 nfhorc ona mn nY1ncfiOnInO
| elected any information from him which
threw any light as to the robbery. They
had been somehow outwitted; the white
man in plug hat and buster had completely
vanished.
1.-The negro said he tbe dog gon if he
knowed anything bout de bizness. Three
or fore days ago a white man asked me to
hold a hat and buster till he cum back. I
waited two days, and no pusson called for
dem, so I put on de hat. Then de white
man cum and laff at me. 1 thot Use done
gon for de piece station, but suah he glib
me five dollars if 1 would stand here and
wear the clothes till Saturday, and Use
gwine to do it suah.'
"Al rejoined u that night. He had com
from the hospital at Alexandria. He
same time taking out from his blouse pocket
u ouAAy pdPSAs oAN PoAAeAAS IAO
of the robbery; he handed it to me, saying:
"sNed, plug hats and busters are fatal
raiment; but, of course, Ned, this I know
was not you, any more than in that sutler
affair, and l.
":Do you entertain the same opinion as
to your own self?' I interrupted.
He gave a light laugh, kissed his hand
to me-and-we we'll, I have not seen him
since till to-day, at the Palmer. He
says he is living in California, and
claims to be very wealthy. His dress
and associates indicate that he spoke the
truth. AS I looked at his trim, slick,
graceful form. noticing his diamonds and
the large gold repeating watch, 1 could not
suppress the remark:
"'Al, you now wear a black coat and
white plug. Quite a change, isn't it? A re-
versed style?'
"Well, you ought to have seen the
alarmed look. But I will say no more.
Draw your own differences, and think what
you please. Let's have something. It was
a close escape for me, anyhow. Nv A.
Phil, in Chicago Ledger.